Sterilizer.



R. P. BARNSTBAD.

STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT.21, 190a.

Patented July 13, 1909.

ROBERT P. BARNSTEAD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STERILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed September 21, 1908. Serial No. 454,034.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', ROBERT P. BARN- STEAD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and residing at the city of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the construction of im roved means forraising the covers of steri izers, and for elevating the trays uponwhich are placed the articles to be treated. To this end, 1 have deviseda pedal operated mechanism by means of which the pressure of theattcndants foot swings up the cover of the sterilizer, and provide thetray with a fluid-pressure operated means for its elevation anddepression; so connecting the cover with the cock controlling the lluidadmission that the opening of the cover opens said cock to admit thefluid, and the closing of the cover changes the cock to permit the fluidin the lluid )ressurc operating means to discharge to the waste.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1is a rear elevation. of a sterilizer made in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 IS a sidesectional elevatlon ol' the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a largerscale of the three-way cock controlling the fluid admission anddischarge.

The sterilizer chamber 1 is provided with a cover 2 referably hinged at3 thereto, as shown in *i 2, and a tray-supporting shelf 4 supporte uponthe punger rod 5, as shown in Fig. 3; the tray 6 being removable fromsaid shelf.

To raise the cover by foot-power, I provide the pedal 7 fixed upon therock-shaft S which is supported in suitable bearings 9 held by theframework 10. Fixed to the extremities of this shaft are arms 11 fromthe ends of which pass the connecting rods 12 to the pivot pins 13projecting fromthe lateral edges of the cover. When the cover is closed,the pedal is more nearly horizontal than when the cover is raised; andhence when said pedal is pressed upon by the attendant s foot, the sameswings down to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and the cover isthrown open. In this position of the arms 11, they constitute toggles inconnection with the rods 12, and so brace the cover against accidentallyclosing. They also serve the same purpose through any chance hit againstthe pedal by the feet. Consequently there is no danger of the coversaccidentall closing and injuring any hand which might be resting uponthe edge of the sterilizer chamber.

The plunger rod 5 has its head 5 slidable Water-tight within thecylinder 15 located beneath the center of the chambers bottom, and fluidunder pressure is admitted within the cylindcrunder the plunger head,for the purpose of elevating the shelf 4 together with the tray and itscontents, in the following manner: Opening into said cylinder close toits lower end is a short section of piping 17 joined to the pipe 16which is connected with any suitable source of lluid under pressure, asa water-main. At the juncture of these two pipes, and also of adischarge pipe 22, is a three-way cock or valve 18 whose stem has arigid arm 19 oined by a connecting rod 20 to an arm 21 with which thecove is provided. Theparts being properly dis osed, the tlireeway valveor cock is opened )y the raising of the cover, and water under pressureadmitted to, the cylinder; thereby elevating the shelf and its lead.When the cover is closed, the three-way cook or valve is turned to openthe section 17 into the pipe 22 communicating with the waste, so thatthe weight of the tray and contents causes the plunger to descend andforce the water beneath it out through said pipe to the waste.

For filling and emptying the sterilizer chamber, two pipes 25 and 26 areprovided, one communicating with the main or other source of supply, andthe other with the waste. Each pipebcing provided with a suitable cock27, either pipe canbe opened according to whether the chamber is' to befilled or emptied. Both these pipes enter the cylinder 15 close to itsupper extremity, and communicate with the chamber 1 through theaperturcd head 28. In this manner there is needed but a single o )eninginto the chamber, that provided for the cylinder, and consequently thereis only one joint which requires to be assured against leakage.

By having the cover 2 capable of being thrown open either by hand orfoot, ability to inspect or remove the tray and its contents is providedeven in case some accident has occurred by which the water hastemporarily been shut oil from the main. Where a moments delay may meanthe loss of the patient, as in many surgical operations, this 1s a mostimportant feature. Moreover, by

having the cover able to be thrown open by hand or foot and in a secondstime, where fractions of seconds are important, the attendant can reachand remove from the tray any uickly required article without waiting fort e slowly moving plunger to raise the tray to the chambers top.

By having the pedal 7 in the stirru form illustrated in Fig. 1, theoperators oot is given a better hold thereupon, especially when it hasswung to a position shown in Fig. 2. As the pedal descends, the toe ofthe operators foot enters the opening in the same and is not only keptfrom slipping laterall ofi therefrom, but is given a better purc aseupon the pedal. erator can rest the heel of her foot upon the floorwhile depressing the pedal.

What I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is asfollows, to wit; Y

1. A sterilizer com rising a chamber, a fluid-pressure actuate shelftherein, a cover for the chamber, a valve controlling the fluid underressure, and connections between said va ve and cover whereby theopening or closing of the cover operates said valve.

2. A sterilizer comprising a chamber, a cover therefor, a movable shelfwithin the chamber, fluid 'lpressure actuated means for raising the shea pipe for supplying the fluid under pressure, a discharge ipecommunicating with the first-namec pipe, a

valve for putting either the supply or the discharge into communicationwith said fluid ressure actuated means, and a connection )etween saidvalve and cover whereby the Moreover, the op-- oemea opening of thecover actuates the valve to admit the fluid, and the closing of thecover actuates the valve to communicate with the discharge.

3. A sterilizercomprising a chamber, a

cover therefor, a pedal operated means for opening the cover, a fluidpressure actuated s elf within the chamber, a valve controlling thesame, and a connection between said valve and cover for actuating thevalve by the movement of the cover.

4. A sterilizer comprising a' chamber, a hinged cover therefor, amovable shelf within the chamber, a plunger and cylinder for raising theshelf, a fluid supply pipe and a dis-' charge pipe connected by a singlesection of piping to the cylinder, a valve at the juncture of saidpipes, an arm rigid with the cover, and a connection between said armand valve for the actuation of the latter.

5. A sterilizer comprising a chamber, a hinged cover therefor, a rockshaft, crankarms fixed to the ends of said shaft, connecting rodsbetween said arms and cover, and a pedal rigid with the rock-shaft saidpedal eing formed substantially triangular in ordcr for the foot to restupon the cross-bar thereof and be kept from slipping off there ROBERT P.BARNSTEAD.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. BULLARD, A. B. UPHAM.

